REPAIR is led by the World Bank, with financial support from the Global Shield Financing Facility (GSFF) and implemented by ARC Ltd., an affiliate of the African Risk Capacity Group. It provides participating countries with pre-arranged, fast-access funding to strengthen response and recovery efforts following climate-related shocks. In this instance, the disbursement followed the devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone Jude, which hit Mozambique in March, severely impacting communities in Nampula and Zambezia provinces.

The funds will enable the Government of Mozambique to deliver urgent relief—including food assistance, medical supplies, and shelter—to nearly 150,000 people affected by the cyclone.

This payout also reflects a deeper commitment shared by all REPAIR partners: ensuring that speed is not only a principle but a lifesaving tool. In a crisis, every hour counts—and getting funds into action quickly can prevent further suffering, protect livelihoods, and support faster recovery.

“Our thoughts are with the families affected by Cyclone Jude – ARC Ltd stands with them by helping deliver the support they need, when they need it most,” said Lesley Ndlovu, CEO of ARC Ltd. “We’re grateful to the Government of Mozambique for their trust and foresight. Speed matters—and we are proud to be part of a response that puts people first.”

The REPAIR programme is built around three core principles: speed, to ensure rapid disbursement when needs are greatest; flexibility, allowing countries to allocate resources according to their specific priorities; and sustainability, to mobilise long-term finance from both public and private sources.

As Caroline Cerrutti, Lead Financial Sector Specialist for the Southern Africa Region at the World Bank, explains: “REPAIR’s approach hinges on its ability to provide rapid and flexible financial support to countries in their moment of greatest need—namely, the period immediately after a disaster. The programme’s commitment to disbursing life-saving funds within seven days of an event, via the use of pre-arranged financial instruments, can be the difference between recovery and relapse. REPAIR was able to respond to Mozambique’s request for USD 16.87 million in two business days to support its disaster response and recovery efforts in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Jude.”

With climate shocks increasing in both frequency and intensity, speed has become one of the most critical elements in disaster response. Delays can turn recoverable crises into prolonged human and economic catastrophes. This rapid payout demonstrates how innovative, pre-arranged finance mechanisms like REPAIR can bridge the gap between emergency and action—making it possible to save lives, not just respond to losses.

More than a financial mechanism, REPAIR reflects a broader ambition shared by its partners—to equip African countries with better tools, faster systems, and more adaptable solutions to protect their populations. As the implementing partner, ARC Ltd continues to invest in new ways to deliver impact more efficiently, with the conviction that resilience is not only about insurance—it is about preserving dignity, enabling recovery, and building futures.

Mozambique is one of three countries—along with Comoros and Madagascar—participating in the first phase of REPAIR. By 2031, the programme aims to support 12 countries across Eastern and Southern Africa, reaching over 24 million people. It is backed by USD 926 million in World Bank funding and aims to mobilise an additional USD 795 million from private capital.